I'm not complaining BUT.....

Think of it as driving the trailer rather than driving the truck. When ur backing up think of it as if u picked the front of the trailer with ur bare hands and muscles and u are guiding it into the spot. Which way do u need to walk to get the trailer more to the right or left. That visualization helped me . I feel like they make things to complicated in school.

 

This is GOLDEN advice.

I give it, too, and no one ever listens.
If you can back a small trailer well the big one is PIE.

 

I've actually had guys get a toy car with a trailer and play with it to get the concept down in their head.

it worked. you have to be able to visualize it.

 

You won't have time to get to that point.

You can easily get to the point of doing it without a pull-up for the test. But you won't be comfortable doing it.

After a few years out of the road you may think you have it down pat.... But a few years later you will notice how much you didn't really have a feel for.

Something you are hoping to do is going to take a while to accomplish. When you get to the point where you aren't thinking about which way to turn the wheel when backing then that is about as good as it's going to get during training, IMO.

If it's a goal you want to accomplish then you will make it happen faster than most. Alot of people avoid even trying, and it doesn't help them.

You got it, no worries.

 

Honestly, They teach you just enough and most of those schools to be dangerous out there. I’m a year and a half in and looking back on it now, I went to a pretty #### good school, but I don’t care what anyone says when you come fresh out of that school you are not ready to hit the road. At that time you think you are, but as you get out there you realize you're not.

After a few months, yes you can confidently drive the truck and do all the job aspects, but there’s so many unknown variables that will hit you over the first year. Things you’ll have to figure out and work through. And continue to improve your driving skills.

1. After school: you know nothing. You’ll mess up stuff.

2. after training, you can somewhat comfortably drive the truck, But you’ll still fear and have uneasiness about many situations.

3. after three months, You’ll be getting more familiar with the In and outs and day-to-day situations that come up. They’ll still make you nervous but you’ll be able to get through them on your own.

After six months, you’re basically cruising, But about once or twice per week the powers that be out there will still throw you a curve ball that you’ll have to work through.

After a year? You’re a driver and should be able to handle most situations well. That said, you’re still gonna learn stuff almost every day. Between years one and two you continue to improve, but you’ll know by then if you’re a good skilled driver or not. Make it this far without any F-ups, major misshaps or tickets, you’re in.

 

That's a good advice you give here. I'm not complaining but I would even stretch out that entire timeframe.
In my opinion, you will learn a lots every day, every trip up to about 5 or 6 years. And then, IMO, starts the the time where you get experience.

You're 1 1/2 years in right now. Do me a favor and remember my words in 4 years from now.
Would be nice to hear about it then.

 

I still learn 24 years later . Maybe not much but a little here and there ..